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Formula 1 Video

2014 Hungarian GP: 30 mins of onboard footage

Daniel Ricciardo, 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix

Imagine for a moment that Formula 1 has embraced the 21st century and makes onboard footage available for free online after each race. Well, you don’t have to imagine any more because thanks to French TV network Canal+ those days are almost here.

After the break you’ll get to see 30 minutes of highlights from the Hungarian Grand Prix. There’s no commentary, no ad breaks, just non-stop onboard footage, including Daniel’s march to victory. It’s totally awesome!

[Source: Canal+ | Thanks to Tom for the tip]

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Mercedes-Benz Oh the humanity

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG lights my fire

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

This flaming Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG has put the hot into hot hatch. The smoking Benz erupted into flames shortly after another motorist noticed smoke coming from the bonnet area and suggested the driver pull over.

Details are thin on the ground at this stage but thankfully the driver was able to escape without injury. Fire crews were soon at the scene to extinguish the blaze.

According to NSW Police the cause of the fire was a “mechanical fault”. We’ll endeavour to find out more and if we do we’ll let you know.

[Source: Daily Mail Australia | Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

UPDATE Monday 4 August: AUSmotive contacted Mercedes-Benz Australia Pacific for comment this morning. Spokesman David McCarthy replied promptly saying: “Until we have investigated the incident we are not able to comment.” He also said, they are “very keen to know the cause”.

Categories
BMW Video

Behind the scenes with Epic Driftmob

BMW's Epic Driftmob

Riley Harper, Rhys Millen, Samuel Hübinette, Conrad Grunewald, Rich Rutherford and Dai Yoshihara are the guys who’ve been brought together to form BMW’s Epic Driftmob. A bunch of drifting champions hooligans, each given an M235i to play with and carte blanche on the streets of Cape Town.

You’ve already seen the finished article, so why not check out the behind the scenes clip. It’s also given us another excuse to post the full video once again. You can see those and more after the break.

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Range Rover

Range Rover Sport SVR claims Nürburgring record

Range Rover Sport SVR

8 minutes 14 seconds.

That’s how fast that Range Rover Sport SVR above was able to lap the 20.832km of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That’s pretty quick for a truck. Actually, it’s pretty bloody quick for any vehicle.

According to the unofficial list for unofficial production car lap times the Sport SVR has split the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (8:13) and the BMW 1 Series M Coupé (8:15) right down the middle. That’s some exalted company for a motoring monolith to be mixing with around the Ring.

Of course, the secret lies, in part, in the SVR suffix which indicates this super SUV has 404kW (550PS) to play with from its fearsome sounding 5.0 litre supercharged V8. That’s an extra 29kW (50PS) more than the regular Range Rover Sport.

The JLR Special Vehicle Operations boffins who found that extra power also beefed up the SVR’s suspension for flatter cornering. Although, importantly, “this has been achieved without compromising the vehicle’s class-leading all terrain capabilities or high levels of comfort”.

Although, as the video below reveals, presumably they’re not referring to the oh so comfy racing buckets and roll cage fitted to this particular “production SUV”. Still, a sub-8:30 SUV that sounds like a thunder storm, what’s not to like!

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BMW Porsche Video

VIDEO: BMW M4 v Porsche 911 Carrera

BMW M4 v Porsche 911 Carrera

Evo magazine has taken to the picturesque Anglesey Circuit with a brand new BMW M4 and pitched it against a Porsche 911 Carrera. The M4 (née M3) v 911 debate is one that’s been around for years now. Two cars that compete against each other in the minds of revheads even though they don’t really share the same market segment.

So which will come out trumps on the tight seaside track? Professional racer Marino Franchitti was on hand to find out. It’s worth paying attention to his steering wheel inputs when the in-car footage is compared too.

Oh, can you believe the 991 is now three years old!

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BMW Video

Epic drifting master class in the BMW M235i

Chris Harris drifting a BMW M235i

Ever wanted to know how to drift a rear-wheel drive car? Take one Chris Harris, one BMW 235i, one heavy right foot and a video camera then watch and learn.

Once you’ve got all that under control you can then form an Epic Driftmob with your mates, close the streets of Cape Town in South Africa, and go totally nuts! Like, really, absolutely insane.

See for yourself after the break.

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News Video

Chris Harris explains subscription channel /DRIVE+

DRIVE+

Chris Harris and his buddies from /DRIVE have just launched their paid YouTube channel /DRIVE+. It will run alongside the free channel we’ve come to know and love, as well as airing the program on NBC.

Harris has explained the move in detail via his PistonHeads blog. Here’s a snippet:

YouTube underwrote two years of DRIVE programming and I loved every minute of it. At the end of 2013 the funding ended and we had to look for ways to keep DRIVE alive…

Remember that rather lovely F40/F50 video we shot at Angelsey? It cost £9,000 to shoot, and despite amassing two million views, to date has grossed us just £4,800. The maths is pretty stark across the board – even the McLaren P1 video has racked up plenty of views, over 3.6 million in fact, but its total revenue is £9,200. That means we’re in profit, but only because it was an official launch event and Woking paid for mine and Neil’s flights, and JF who was second camera used his air miles to get from the US!

It’s a brave new world for online motoring content and while it’s a shame from the punter’s point of view that we have to pay for /DRIVE+ it is a reality I fully understand.

I’ve been running AUSmotive pretty much for the love of it for over six years now. If I didn’t have a full-time paying job I wouldn’t have that luxury. It’s very hard to make a buck in this space.

I wish Harris et al well and hope they’re able to continue providing some of the best motoring content our eyes and ears can enjoy.

There’s an explanatory video and teaser after the break. /DRIVE+ kicks off this week with Harris at the wheel of the LaFerrari.

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Citroen Ford Hyundai Volkswagen WRC

2014 Rally Poland in pictures

2014 WRC Rally Poland

While it’s true we have missed out on regular WRC updates you haven’t missed out on anything you couldn’t have guessed for yourself. And that’s Sebastien Ogier has won another rally and is well on the way to his second world championship.

Also happy with his time in Poland was junior Volkswagen driver Andreas Mikkelesen who achieved his best WRC result to date. It was good to see Thierry Nueville at the somewhat pointy end, too. Let’s hope Hyundai can figure more prominently in the second half of the season.

Ogier leads Jari-Matti Latvala by 50 points in the title race. And if you were in any doubt about Volkswagen’s current WRC dominance then consider that Latvala, only in second in the championship, has enough points on his own to lead the manufacturers’ standings.

So now you’re up to speed on where the WRC is at and we promise you won’t have to wait over a month for a Rally Finland update!

2014 WRC Rally Poland

  1. Sebastien Ogier Volkswagen Polo R WRC – 2:34:02.00
  2. Andreas Mikkelsen Volkswagen Polo R WRC – +1:07.7
  3. Thierry Neuville Hyundai i20 WRC – +2:13.5
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Porsche Video

Another look inside Porsche’s secret museum

Porsche's secret museum

Getting a look at the official Porsche Museum is pretty cool, or so we’ve been told. So we can only imagine how awesome it would be to take a peek inside the company’s secret museum. It’s the place where the prototypes and test mules are hidden away, some barely saw the light of day even when they were current.

Chris Chilton from Car magazine gives us a brief tour of the secret museum. You may recall Porsche has already done this, too, but we don’t think anyone will mind a repeat performance.

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BMW Motorsports Video

Onboard through Eau Rouge, woo hoo!

Alexander Sims, BMW Z4 GT3, 2014 Spa 24 hour race

Alexander Sims spent last weekend helping the Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3 finish second in class at the 24 Hours of Spa. We were lucky enough to join him onboard during the race for a one question interview.

We asked: “So Alexander, what’s it like to fly through Eau Rouge in a world class GT3 racecar?” Watch the video after the break for his reply.

[Source: GridStars | Thanks to Aaron for the tip]

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Categories
Lancia

Petrolicious admires the Lancia Stratos

Lancia Stratos

If you love the Lancia Stratos—and let’s face it, who doesn’t—then we suggest you follow the source link below where you’ll be greeted by the first class images and words assembled by Petrolicious:

The Stratos’s details are no less interesting. In Stradale trim the car has virtually no chrome (just like the HF) yet it retains the functional hood louvers and can frequently be found sporting the hood and engine cover latches. The most interesting detail however, is the Bertone logo prominently displayed on the B-pillar. Framed by the two symmetrical cutlines jutting up towards it, it’s literally impossible to miss. I have always loved how Italian car companies tend to recognize the carrozzerias responsible for clothing their mechanicals with a fender badge or something similar, but to be featured so prominently is unusual and is fitting for such an impressive design.

[Source: Petrolicious]

Categories
Formula 1 News

Bernie says: I’ll pay to settle bribery case

Bernie Ecclestone

The bribery case involving Bernie Ecclestone looks set to be settled out of court. The BBC reports Ecclestone’s lawyers are ready to pay up to €25 million (AU$35.7m) to end the case against him in the German courts.

On Tuesday Ecclestone’s defence team called for an end to proceedings citing a lack of evidence while also indicating the F1 supremo is willing to negotiate an out of court settlement. If a suitable settlement can be achieved German law allows prosecutors to withdraw all charges.

The bribery claims relate to the sale of Formula 1 to CVC Capaital Partners in 2006, where it is alleged Ecclestone paid off former banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure a smooth transaction.

Gribkowsky is currently serving an eight-and-a-half year jail term for his part in that deal, being found guilty of accepting a bribe.

[Source: BBC | Pic: AP]